Rubiana Ali

Rubina Ali played Latika in the movie Slumdog Millionaire. Ali was cast while living the slums of India, where the movie was filmed. Slumdog Millionaire was Ali's first acting job.

Unlike her Slumdog co-star Azharuddin Ismail's home, Ali's home was spared from demolition in May of 2009. Indian authorities are reportedly clearing a number of homes that were said to have been built illegally in the slum areas of Mumbai. Ismail's home was destroyed on May 14th and his family's personal belongings were destroyed with it.CNN: Home of 'Slumdog' child star spared (May 20, 2009)

The British tabloid News of the World reported in April of 2009 that Ali's impoverished father, Rafiq Qureshi, offered to sell her to undercover reporters, who were posing as a wealthy family from Dubai, for £200,000.News of the World: Slumdog Millionaire Latika is Offered for Sale by Dad... (April 19, 2009) The National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights investigated the claims. Shantha Sinha, who heads the agency, gave this statement, "We have sought a report from them and will take a decision after seeing it."CNN: Probe into 'Slumdog' child star sale claim (April 21, 2009) People Magazine reported on April 22nd, that Qureshi had been cleared of attempting to sell his daughter as there is "no evidence of any offense, hence there is no registration of complaint and no arrest." Qureshi stated that the rumor was "made up by foreign journalists playing games with me."People: Police Clear Slumdog Millionaire Dad (April 22, 2009)

People Magazine reported on February 25th, that the Indian government authorities are providing Ali and Ismail with new homes. Gautam Chatterjee, from the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority, stated, "These two children have brought laurels to the country, and we have been told that they live in slums, which cannot even be classified as housing."People: Slumdog Child Stars to Receive New Homes (February 25, 2009)

Slumdog Millionaire, based on the novel Q&A by Vikas Swarupis, focuses on an 18-year-old boy who strikes it big on India's version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? After being arrested for the suspicion of cheating, he is forced to go back in time to tell the story of his poverty stricken childhood. The movie, directed by Danny Boyle, was released on November 12, 2008. Christian Colson was the film's producer. The cast includes; Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Madhur Mittal, Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, Tanay Hemant Chheda, Tanvi Ganesh Lonkar, Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala, Rubiana Ali and Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail.

Holly Scoop blogsite reported on March 30, 2009, that Ali is starring in a new soft drink commercial alongside actress Nicole Kidman. She was said to have been paid more for starring in the commercial than she was for her role in Slumdog.HollyScoop: Slumdog Actress to Star in Commercial with Nicole Kidman (March 30, 2009)

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